Amphoe Ban Ta Khun

Infobox_Amphoe
name=Ban Ta Khun
thai=บ้านตาขุน
province=Surat Thani
coordinates=coord|8|54|18|N|98|53|6|E|type:adm2nd_region:TH
capital=Khao Wong
area=1308.2
population=14,116
population_as_of=2005
density=10.8
postal_code=84230
geocode=8409

Ban Ta Khun ( _th. บ้านตาขุน) is a district ("Amphoe") in the west of Surat Thani Province of southern Thailand. It is both the largest district of the province areawise as well as the one with the lowest population density.

Geography

Most of the district is located within the hills of the Phuket mountain range, with parts being protected within the Khao Sok national park and the Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary. Mostly located in Ranong province is the Khlong Nakha Wildlife Sanctuary, which covers the northwestern corner of the district.

The main rivers of the district is the "Khlong" Saeng, which is dammed by the Ratchaprapha dam to form the Chiao Lan reservoir. It mouths near the town Khao Wong into the Phum Duang River.

Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise) Tha Chang, Vibhavadi, Khiri Rat Nikhom and Phanom of Surat Thani, Khura Buri of Phang Nga Province, and Suk Samran and Kapoe of Ranong Province.

History

The district was created on July 20 1973 as a minor district ("King Amphoe") by splitting off five "tambon" from Khiri Rat Nikhom. [cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=90|issue=86 ง|pages=2153|title=ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง แบ่งท้องที่อำเภอคีรีรัฐนิคม จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี ตั้งเป็นกิ่งอำเภอบ้านตาขุน|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2516/D/086/2153.PDF|date=July 17 1973|language=Thai]

On September 9 1976 the minor district was elevated to full district status [cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=93|issue=109 ก special |pages=31–34|title=พระราชกฤษฎีกาตั้งอำเภอเลาขวัญ อำเภอคำม่วง อำเภอพิปูน อำเภอศรีเทพ อำเภอนาแห้ว อำเภอส่องดาว อำเภอควนกาหลง อำเภอค่ายบางระจัน อำเภอบ้านตาขุน และอำเภอกุดจับ พ.ศ. ๒๕๑๙|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2519/A/109/31.PDF|date=September 8 1976|language=Thai] .

The fifth "tambon" Krai Son (ไกรสร) was later included into Khao Phang, [cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=103|issue=218 ง|pages=117–119|title=ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง ยุบและเปลี่ยนแปลงเขตตำบล ในท้องที่อำเภอบ้านตาขุน จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2529/D/219/117.PDF|date=December 12 1986|language=Thai] as it was located in the area flooded by the Chiao Lan lake.

ymbols

The slogan of the district is "High mountains, beautiful dam, rich in fruits, outstanding virtue, origin of the trunks for the city pillar".

Administration

The district is subdivided into 4 subdistricts ("tambon"), which are further subdivided into 29 villages ("muban"). There are two subdistrict municipalities ("thesaban tambon") - Khao Wong (to be renamed Ban Ta Khun) covers 7.8 km² of "tambon" Khao Wong, and Khao Pang 10.1 km² of "tambon" Khao Pang. Each of the 4 "tambon", except the areas covered by the municipalities, is administrated by a Tambon administrative organization (TAO).

References

External links

* [http://www.amphoe.com/menu.php?am=701&pv=66&mid=1 amphoe.com]
* [http://www.geocities.com/takhun2004 Website of district] (Thai)